Former staff charged with K474,000 theft

 THREE former public servants have been charged with fraud-related charges involving K473,575 allocated to a district services improvement programme in Jiwaka.

An investigation team comprising the police fraud squad, National Fraud Anti-Corruption Unit, auditors from the Treasury Department and the auditor’s office was asked to check the books of the Anglimp-South Waghi district in Jiwaka.

The team was led by Insp Luke Upa began their work on April 12.

Jiwaka provincial police commander Supt Simon Nigi named the three as Paul Guli (district treasurer), Dorothy Kuri (machinist) and Paula Kraib (examiner). They have been charged with conspiracy and misuse of funds between 2008 and 2012.

Nigi said Emp Pai, the owner of Walpe Construction Ltd, was also charged with conspiracy and misuse of K120,000.

Guli, Kuri and Kraib were bailed K3,000 each. Pai spent a night in the cell and on Wednesday was taken by his lawyer to apply for a court bail.

He said the K473,575 was allocated for the Minj-Kudjip back road. Upon inspection, no work had been carried out.

He said police were also looking for former district administrator Kimin Gokumi, the deputy chairman of the joint district planning and budget priority committee Kama Aleka and Georgina Kama for questioning over the same case.

“I want to appeal to them to surrender to the investigation team for questioning,” he said.

“Every time they see a police vehicle or men, they go into hiding. They can’t escape the law which will eventually catch up with them.”

He said the investigation team would move on to North Waghi and then to Jimi district after their work in Anglimp-South Waghi.

Governor William Tongamp said the investigation was conducted at the request of the Jiwaka people who had complained about the lack of development in the past 10 years.